PARIS: Moseley finally gets some offensive support

LOS ANGELES -- The rock anthem "Don't Stop Believing" filled asun-splashed Dodger Stadium late Sunday afternoon, and what ajourney it has been for Dustin Moseley.

The Padres' pitcher devoid of a rabbit's foot, four-leaf cloverand anything resembling run support finally found a high note.After five starts in which the Padres' bats were allergic torallies, they scored -- are you sitting? -- seven runs for thedeserving Moseley.

That was plenty for the right-hander as he embraced his riches
by hurling seven innings en route to a 7-0 victory.

The man with the microscopic ERA (1.63) was finally buoyed by an
AWOL offense.

And a team flashing SOS signs after a dismal April -- Save OurSeason -- is showing a pulse after taking two-of-three from theDodgers.

But back to Mosey (1-3), as the Padres finally had his back.

"I'm not a pitcher, but I imagine it could be frustrating,''said center fielder Cameron Maybin, who drove in the first run."But he has shown a great attitude. He has been behind us all theway, cheering us on. He is aware how this game can go.''

Moseley's head is as keen as his arm. Despite the Padres being
shut out his first three starts, not scoring until his fifth outing
and just two runs in his 31 2/3 innings, Moseley stayed calm.

"You understand how the game works and understand everybody istrying their very best,'' said Moseley, who bounced between theYankees and their Triple A club last year. "Nobody is slacking ornot preparing to do their job. Everybody is working hard and tryingto get better so you see that and there is no reason to be upset.You just do your job and hopefully it comes around.''

Around March, Moseley was fighting for the rotation's fifthspot. He pitched well in the spring, but his break came when Mat
Latos' season started on the disabled list.

"He has really taken the bull by the horns and is seizing theopportunity to be a major-league pitcher every fifth day withoutlooking back,'' Padres manager Bud Black said.

Moseley's career was slowed by arm injuries, but somehow he
avoided whiplash.

"I've never had an opportunity to make this many starts where
you're not looking over your shoulder, or is someone is going to
get healthy and you go back to the bullpen, or whatever,'' he
said.

"The confidence the coaching staff showed in me, the belief of
'Hey you can pitch, you can do it,' it started real early,''
Moseley said. "And when you do that for an athlete it's, 'OK, I'm
on a team that wants me, a team that believes in what I can do and
will work with me through good and bad to get to that point.' And
it helps.''

Moseley was aided by double plays in the fourth and sixth
innings as he danced around potential danger. He finished with six
strikeouts, allowing three hits and two walks, good enough with the
offense climbing off the mat.

"He has pitched his tail off every game and we hadn't scored forhim,'' said Brad Hawpe, who had a two-hit, two-RBI day. "And he hasbeen a pro about it.''

Moseley's career was a hodgepodge of different roles fordifferent teams. He started nine games for the Yankees last year,three for the Angels in 2009 before getting hurt, rode the Angelsand their minor-league roller-coaster in 2008, and was an Angelsreliever in 2007.

"Now he knows his strengths and weaknesses,'' said Black, who
worked with Moseley in Anaheim. "He knows what he can do to get
guys out.''

After seeing too many teammates retired too many times, Moseley
and Padres runs finally collided. Although toiling for the Padres
-- compared to the potent Yankees -- molds Moseley into a better
pitcher.

"It definitely makes you really focus on your job one pitch at a
time when you don't have that luxury of scoring a lot of runs,'' he
said.

Not so Sunday, with the Padres' bats declining another
sabbatical.

But before the outburst, Moseley didn't mope.

"He wasn't disappointed he wasn't getting 'Ws'; he was more
disappointed that the team wasn't get 'Ws,' '' Balsley said. "Never
once did he waiver mentally throughout the whole period.

"He's new to our team this year. But he has blended right in and
is completely on board in how we play baseball.''

Keeping the faith has long been a Padres mantra. We also know
that Moseley won't stop believing.